Rabid fox attacks Cohoes woman

COHOES -- The fox that is believed to have attacked a 43-year-old woman on Jefferson Avenue Friday morning tested positive for rabies, officials said.

At around 6:45 a.m., the unidentified woman went in to her yard and saw the grey fox, which a little larger than a cat or small dog. She stood still in order to not attract its attention, but when the animal saw her, it bit her once and then again as she ran back to her home, according to Cohoes Police Chief Bill Heslin.

The woman immediately went to the hospital, where she was treated for rabies. The state Department of Health was notified of the attack, along with the Cohoes Police Department.

Heslin said a man in his 40s, also on Jefferson Avenue, was chased by a fox not long after the attack. Shortly after, police found the animal in the woods and shot it.

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The fox was taken to a Guilderland animal hospital, where it tested positive for rabies, officials said.

Authorities are not positive it is the same animal, but reports of the fox in the attack indicate it had a "skunky odor," which the shot fox also had, Heslin said. The fox was also making unusual "yipping" noises.

"I'm asking that residents on James, Jefferson and all around Lansing Park use caution," he said, adding that any further sightings should be reported by calling 911.

Heslin said neighbors in that area reported seeing two foxes in recent weeks, so authorities believe another fox may be in the area.

"Quick action was taken by Cohoes police, animal control and the Albany County Health Department to make sure the public was protected," Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said. "It is important to remember whenever any animal, particularly a wild or stray animal is acting strangely, to stay away and contact animal control."

Jefferson Avenue neighbor Lora Pawenski said that part of the city can be rural. Her family owns a farm up the road and they have had to put down a cow due to a rabid animal attack in the past. Her husband and three grandchildren have also had to have rabies vaccinations.

"It's not the animal's fault," she said, noting new housing developments utilize areas that were once forests.

Pawenski has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years and plans to keep her cat indoors for the time being.

Heslin recommended that city residents sign up for news alerts on the city website by visiting cohoes.com and clicking on the "First Call: Emergency Notification" logo in the right-hand corner.